Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis (PLAN-tur fas-e-I-tis) is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It involves pain and inflammation of a thick band of tissue, called the plantar fascia, which runs across the bottom of your foot — connecting your heel bone to your toes.

Plantar fasciitis (PF) causes stabbing pain that usually occurs with your very first steps in the morning. Once your foot limbers up, the pain of plantar fasciitis normally decreases, but it may return after long periods of standing or after getting up from a seated position. Plantar fasciitis is particularly common in runners. People who are overweight, women who are pregnant, and those who wear shoes with inadequate support, are at a higher risk of plantar fasciitis.

A Note from the Doctor: We have great success treating plantar fasciitis in a limited number of visits. The treatment includes myotherapy, stretching, and rehabilitative exercises. With the treatment, we are able to break down the restricted tissue to create a better blood flow to the injury and allow it to heal in a quicker more efficient manner.

Many people that suffer with plantar fasciitis will seek podiatric or orthopedic specialist and opt for cortisone injections. This will help decrease the inflammation but is often described as “masking the pain” because it does not address the underlying problem. It can be a quick way to relieve the pain associated with plantar fasciitis and depending on the individual can have a long -lasting effect. Orthotics and night splints are often prescribed as well.